Hugo Chavez has threatened to arrest and detain any US Embassy official, especially military attachés, if suspected or found spying on Venezuela. He clams that the US officials have been in contact with Venezuelan military officers and are suspected of espionage for the Pentagon.
This is the latest in a series of Chavez saber-rattling tirades against the United States. In December, he threatened to expel US military advisers helping the Venezuelan military to combat drug trafficking in Venezuela. And recently, he has established diplomatic ties with first Cuba, then Red China and he has been buying arms form Red China that no doubt are coming through the Panama Canal.
He always refers to President Bush as "Mr. Danger" or to likes of Satan and he has repeatedly accused the Bush Administration trying to overthrow him. When the rabid leader survived a 2002 coup by anti-socialist Venezuelans, he claimed that the coup was backed by the US government, but he has yet to show any evidence of such "backing."
The National Ledger reports:
US intelligence officials say Chavez’s accusations of plots are populist rhetoric meant to shore up his support among poor voters. His critics South America and within the Beltway believe he’s a threat to democracy in Venezuela and overseas.
Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel — no relation to Democrat Congressman Charlie Rangel — said several low-ranking Venezuelan army officers had been discovered leaking secrets to the United States.
But Chavez’s government has failed to reveal how many officers were actually involved or have officials confirmed that anyone has been detained.
In what appears to be headed towards a Stalinist purge, Alonso Medina, an attorney for one man detained in the investigation, said his client, Jacinto Nouel, is a former firefighter and dentist and he’s been jailed on charges of spying and threatening the security of the military.
Chavez is a dangerous man. He has threatened to cut his oil supplies to the U.S. Unfortunately there are many governments south of the border who are backing his left-wing ideas, including communisit Cuba and China.